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We are pleased to share with you the following news, information and ministry opportunities taking place within our synod. If you have items to share about the ministries happening through your congregation, please email Terri Robertson at
terrirobertson@pacificasynod.org. If you know of others who aren't receiving our emails, please share this with them and encourage them to sign up
here.
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Bishop Emeritus Robert L. Miller Memorial Service
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A memorial service celebrating the life of The Rev. Robert L. Miller, Bishop Emeritus of the Pacifica Synod, will be held on Saturday, March 18 at 11:00 a.m. at Messiah Lutheran Church (4861 Liverpool Street, Yorba Linda).
A reception will immediately follow the service.
To assist in planning for the meal, we encourage you to RSVP by following this link.You may RSVP individually or as a congregational group.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial gifts to the following funds or organizations:
Cards and notes of condolences may be sent to:
Doris Miller & Family
1231 Mt. Simon Drive
Livermore, CO 80536
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Pacifica Synod Assembly 2017 - ReFORM, TransFORM, InFORM
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We will gather for our 30th Annual Pacifica Synod Assembly from Thursday, May 11 to Saturday, May 13, 2017 at the Town and Country Resort in San Diego. Our theme is "ReForm - InForm - TransForm".
Registration Information
Your congregation's early bird registration invoice has been mailed to the attention of your Congregation Treasurer. You have until February 28, 2017 to take advantage of the discounted congregational registration fee. The invoice also contains the number of voting members your congregation is assigned, along with a cover letter with further information. If you have any questions about your invoice, please contact Terri Robertson at terrirobertson@pacificasynod.org or by phone at 714.692.2791, ext. 732.
Fee reductions for smaller congregations may be requested. To do so, please contact Rachel Line at rachelline@pacificasynod.org by March 15, 2017.
Please keep in mind that payment of this invoice
does not register individuals from your congregation
. Online
registration for voting members and guests will open on March 1 and information will be sent out prior to that time to walk you through the process.
Hotel Information
To take advantage of the discounted hotel rate at the Town & Country Resort of $139 per night, please book your stay
directly
with the hotel by April 19, 2017. The link to reserve a room at this rate may be found here. You may also call the hotel reservation line at 800.772.8527. Be sure to reference Pacifica Synod when you call by phone in order to receive the discounted rate. This rate is available during the dates of May 8-13, 2017. Information about the Town & Country Resort may be found on their website at:
Information about the synod assembly continues to be added to our website (
www.pacificasynod.org
) as it becomes available. Watch for our first edition of the 2017 Assembly News to be sent this week!
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Synod Council Nominations Requested
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The Nominating Committee for the 2017 Pacifica Synod Assembly needs your help in surfacing names of persons able to serve our synod in an elected capacity. If you provide their contact information, the committee will make contact with the nominee to determine a willingness to serve. To meet the inclusivity requirement of our Synod Constitution (S6.04), we will accept nominees to fill the following council positions as shown below. We are seeking two nominees for each position. Designations male/female are made in an effort to provide 50/50 balance. Please contact Rachel Line by email at
rachelline@pacificasynod.org for more information.
2017 Synod Council Positions To Be Filled:
Four-year term:
Treasurer (lay or clergy)
Three-year terms:
Hukilau Conference Lay (male)
Lay at Large (female, ethnic or English as a second language)
Big Bear Conference Clergy (female)
Saddleback Conference Lay (female)
Two-year term:
Youth Representative (age 20 or younger at time of election)
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Congregational Report (Parochial Reports) DUE NOW!
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 In mid-December, the ELCA mailed the 2016 congregational report forms to all congregations.The mailing included Form A, Form C, the instructions, and the financial worksheet. In addition, the Congregational ID number and password for online reporting were included in the mailing. You will need these items to login and file your report online. To do so, follow
this link.
The information included in these forms is crucial to keeping the parochial statistics current. Even if you missed the February 15 filing deadline, please still submit your reports, as the ELCA continues to compile your information. If you can't find your login information, please email Terri Robertson at
terrirobertson@pacificasynod.org
.
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Pacifica Women of the ELCA News
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The Pacifica Women of the ELCA, is a women's organization of the Women of the ELCA (WELCA), Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Together, this network of women makes a difference in the world because God has made a difference in our lives.
The Pacifica Women of the ELCA will hold our annual Spring Event on Saturday, March 4 at the Lutheran Church of Our Savior in San Bernardino. We are excited about the event and all women are invited to attend. Information may be found in the February issue of our
Pacifica Partners newsletter, including a registration form, tentative schedule, Love Gift list, as well as our president's article, which provides many details.
You are invited! Come!
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Changes in the ELCA Model Constitution for Congregations
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In September 2016, Pacifica Bishop Andy Taylor shared with our congregations information about the 2016 Churchwide Assembly's adoption of changes to the Model Constitution for Congregations of the ELCA. A copy of his communication may be found here. All congregations were requested to make these changes.
As a reminder, if you have made these changes - and these changes only - to your constitution, you do not need approval by the Synod Constitution Committee. But we do ask that you send a copy of your updated constitution to our office, along with the date it was adopted by your congregation, so that we can add it to your congregational records.
If you are making any other updates or changes in addition to these adopted by the 2016 Churchwide Assembly, approval by the Synod Constitution Committee IS required. Please contact Rachel Line at rachelline@pacificasynod.org for more information on this process.
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From Our Presiding Bishop
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Whose work is it?
 In her February column for Living Lutheran, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton lifts up the need for well-trained pastors and deacons. Where do we find these potential leaders? She says it's the "work of the entire church."
Read her column in English here or in Spanish here.
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ELCA Rostered Ministers Gathering
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This summer we will have a unique opportunity to gather for the first ever ELCA Rostered Ministers Gathering. We will come together under the theme of "On the Way...Together," using the Road to Emmaus story (Luke 24:13-25) to guide our time together.
This gathering provides a wonderful opportunity for rostered ministers to be nourished in worship, song, Bible study, a wide variety of topical workshops, service learning opportunities and keynote speakers. This gathering also provides an opportunity to meet your colleagues for fellowship and idea-sharing. It is a time to be refreshed and renewed, as you serve in this church.
Join us August 7-10, 2017 in Atlanta, where we will gather with hearts burning within us in the name of Jesus, the crucified and risen Christ. I look forward to meeting you there.
Registration will open March 1 at
elca.org/RMG. Early registration with a reduced fee is available until May 31, 2017.
The Rev. Kevin L. Strickland
Assistant to the Presiding Bishop/Executive for Worship
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Portico Pre-Retirement Webinars
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Portico's pre-retirement webinars make it easy to learn about retirement planning anytime, anywhere. This free series is led by a team of experienced retirement specialists from Portico and Ernst & Young. When you register and join us for a live webinar, you'll be able to participate in a live Q&A session. Each webinar will be archived and available for viewing online anytime. The next live webinar series consisting of three webinars will take place in February. Follow
this link for more information.
On February 21st, from 9:00 to 9:30 a.m., Portico will also have a webinar called, "Retirement Planning Made Simple" which is designed for members and employers to learn more about Portico's new, simpler approach to retirement planning. This webinar is designed more as an announcement than education. It will feature the new financial tool, financial planning team, wellness program, upcoming education opportunities, and Portico's renewed focus on financial education. This is a great opportunity for those who want to learn more about not only what is changing but why Portico decided to make these changes and bring in these new benefits. Registration for this webinar may be found here.
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ELCA Annual Report Cover Page
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The 2016 Annual Report Cover Page and other resources are now available on the
Stewardship page of the ELCA website:
- Annual Report Cover (Folder version)
- Annual Report Cover (Single page version)
- Where your offering goes (Poster)
- Where your offering goes (8.5x11)
The Annual Report Cover also includes a message from Bishop Eaton and an opening litany.
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Celebrating Ministry Together!
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We are pleased to welcome the Rev. Rick Fry to the Pacifica Synod! Pastor Rick
 was installed as pastor of Ascension Lutheran, San Diego on January 29, 2017. We asked Pastor Rick to share a little about himself here.
Hello! My name is Rick Fry, and I'm the pastor at Ascension Lutheran Church. Previously, I was previously the pastor of two small congregations in rural Wisconsin.
I was born and raised in the heartland of Ohio. I grew up on a farm with a love for the outdoors and nature. My wife and I are the parents of two marvelous girls, Fiona and Adeleen.
I enjoy writing. I wrote an unpublished novel a few years back. I also have a blog where I occasionally post creative writing and devotions. You can find it at
rickfry130.wordpress.com.
I love travel and music. I like exploring new places, and I even hitchhiked across the country a few times. I once made a pilgrimage of sorts to a bar in Asbury Park, New Jersey called the Stone Pony, where a young Bruce Springsteen got his start.
I 'm excited to do new ministry here in San Diego, and to be a part of such a faithful and vibrant synod. I look forward to many good years together.
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You're Invited
Installation of Pastor Jennifer Schultz - February 19
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Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Los Alamitos invites you to the installation service of the Rev. Jennifer Schultz on Sunday, February 19 at 3:00 p.m., with a reception following the service. Bishop Andrew Taylor will be preaching. Rostered clergy and laity are invited to vest in green for the service. Pastor Schultz began serving in this new call on January 3. Bethlehem Lutheran Church is located at 3352 Katella Avenue in Los Alamitos.
Introducing Pastor Jennifer!
 My name is Jennifer Schultz and I am new to the Pacifica Synod, called to serve as Pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Los Alamitos. This is my third call, I have previously served First Evangelical Lutheran in Mount Vernon, WA for 12 years and Salem Lutheran in Mount Vernon, WA for 8 years. I grew up in New Richland, MN, I graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN with a B.A. in Psychology and Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN with an M.Div. I enjoy communicating and sharing the Good News of Christ in a variety of ways to a variety of people and look forward to meeting and familiarizing myself with the folks of Bethlehem, the Los Alamitos area, and the Pacifica Synod. One of the ways I'm currently serving the larger church is as the Team Leader for Volunteers for the ELCA Youth Gathering in Houston, TX in 2018, it is quite the faith-filled experience! Some of my additional interests include travelling, cooking, attending musical theatre, singing, and playing piano. I can be contacted via e-mail: prjenniferblclosalamitos@gmail.com and at church (562) 430-3444.
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Volunteers Needed - Habitat for Humanity, Orange County
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Habitat for Humanity in Orange County has informed us that many of their build sites were ruined as a result of flooding. Thankfully, True Value Hardware has donated to them a huge amount of materials, enough to build six or more houses! Habitat will be unloading these materials over the course of four days at the Anaheim Convention Center and they need MANY volunteers to assist them.
 The day they need the most help is Tuesday, February 21st - although they still do need some more on Monday, February 20th if you are not available Tuesday.
Hours: 7:00 am - 1:30 pm or any portion thereof.
Requirements: 14 or older. Must be able to lift 20-40 lbs. Close-toed shoes, but they do not need to be hard shoes.
You will receive: Free parking, tee shirt, and lunch.
Please email Pastor Stephanie Lape of St. Paul Lutheran in Fullerton at
prstephanielape@gmail.com
with your name and email address if you can help.
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Water Justice Conference Webcast - March 22-24, 2017
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For a downloadable version of this flyer, please click here.
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Concordia Choir Concert - Dana Point - Wednesday, March 8
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Hear one of the nation's finest college choirs perform Wednesday, March 8 at 7:00 p.m. in St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church. Tickets available online at ConcordiaTickets.com, by calling 800-838-3006, or at the door if not sold out. Presented by Gloria Dei Lutheran Church and St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church. René Clausen conducts the 72-voice a cappella choir in several spirituals and hymns plus a folk-inspired section titled How Can I Keep From Singing? Visit www.TheConcordiaChoir.org today for complete concert information or to download the flyer below.
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Renaissance and Reformation:
German Art in the Age of Dürer and Cranach
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 Coinciding with the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, "Renaissance and Reformation: German Art in the Age of Dürer and Cranach" brings to Los Angeles some of the greatest achievements of German Renaissance art. This exhibition is included in General Admission cost at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art through March 26.
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Elementary Youth Event - Saturday, April 29
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For a PDF flyer to distribute, click
here.
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Art Devotional Women's Retreat - Luther Glen - May 26-28
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Registration is NOW OPEN for
Western States Youth Gathering - June 28 to July 2, 2017
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Held on the campus of California Lutheran University in Southern California
June 28 - July 2, 2017
For all high school youth in ELCA Regions 1 - 4
Western States Youth Gathering occurs every three years. There will be mass gatherings with great speakers and musicians; learning and small group experiences; a beach day; immersion experience in Los Angeles; worship that takes you in new directions; and much more!
The current registration cost is $460 per person. For more info, go to the website at www.wsyg.com.
Questions? Contact
Linda LeBlanc, Assistant Director for Congregational Relations at leblanc@callutheran.edu or 805.493.3936.
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